Vacuum cleaner cover latch control



Dec. 19, 1967 B. E. NILSSON 3,359,025

VACUUM CLEANER COVER LATCH CONTROL Filed Oct. 7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet lF/Gj' n /5 Tu "III/ /6- INVENTOR MATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1967 B. E. NILSSONVACUUM CLEANER COVER LATCH CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1965INVENTOR EM 4 %1'0RNEY Dec. 19, 1967 B. E. NILSSON 3,

VACUUM CLEANER COVER LATCH CONTROL Filed Oct. '7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 357 4; FIG] fi ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1967 B. E. NILSSON VACUUM CLEANER COVERLATCH CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. '7, 1965 E mm w r NM hmINVENTOR. M Mm BY W um/way United States Patent 3,359,025 VACUUM CLEANERCOVER LATCH CONTROL Bengt Erik Nilsson, Hagersten, Sweden, assignor toAktieholaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of SwedenFiled Oct. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 493,742 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-117) The presentinvention relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly is directedto an improved latch mechanism for controlling the opening and closingof a vacuum cleaner casing.

While the present invention may have other applications, it isparticularly adapted for use with tank type vacuum cleaners. Such vacuumcleaners include a casing having an opening, usually at an end thereof,for the insertion and removal of a dust bag which is preferablydisposable, and an end cover which is hinged or otherwise mounted on thecasing for movement to and from a position closing the end opening. Aflexible hose has one end detachably connected to an opening in thecover, and suitable nozzles or other cleaning appliances are detachablyengageable with the other end of the hose. A motor-fan unit in thecasing produces a partial vacuum therein to cause dirt-laden air to bedrawn into the casing from the cleaning appliance through the hose. Asthe dust-laden air flows through the porous dust bag in the casing ofthe vacuum cleaner, the dust and dirt is separated from the air andretained in such bag, whereupon the clean air is exhausted through asuitable discharge opening of the casing.

If such a vacuum cleaner is operated without a dust bag properlypositioned therein, the dust removed from one area of a room isexhausted with the air leaving the casing and distributed over theentire area of the room being cleaned. Furthermore, such dust or dirtaccumulates 0n the motor-fan unit and is apt to interfere with itsproper operation.

Although vacuum cleaner cover latching mechanisms have been providedwhich prevent the latching of the cover in its closed position so longas a dust bag is not properly positioned within the casing, for example,as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,860,725, issued Nov. 18, 1958, to A. P.Cawl et al., and in US. Patent No. 3,016,982 issued Jan. 16, 196-2, toR. Descarries, such known latching mechanisms are relatively complex andcostly to produce and assemble. The known latching mechanisms furtherprovide only a single latch element which is laterally centered on thecover at the side of the latter remote from its hinge axis and which isengageable with a similarly centered single keeper mounted at theadjacent end of the vacuum cleaner casing. The engagement of the singlelaterally centered latch element with a single keeper providesinadequate security for maintaining the cover in its closed position,particularly when the cleaner casing is propelled along other than astraight path by a pull exerted on the hose connected to the cover.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a vacuumcleaner of the described type with a latching mechanism which isoperative to releasably secure the end cover of the casing in its closedposition only when a dust bag is disposed within the casing, and whereinsuch latching mechanism includes two laterally spaced keepers on thecasing and a similarly laterally spaced pair of latch elements mountedon the cover and having latching noses that are engageable with therespective keepers.

Another object is to provide a latching mechanism of the describedcharacter which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce andassemble, and which is reliably capable of sensing the presence orabsence of a dust bag Within the casing.

3,359,025 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 In acordance with an aspect of thisinvention, a latching mechanism for a vacuum cleaner of the describedtype comprises two keepers spaced apart in a direction parallel to thehinge axis of the cover and being substantially equally spaced from suchaxis, a latch member having a pair of generally parallel latch elementsand an integral connecting bar extending between the latch elements andspacing apart the latter by a distance equal to the distance between thekeepers, each latch element having a mounting lug at one end and alatching nose at the other end, the cover being formed with spacedsockets which loosely receive the mounting lugs of the latch member andthereby mount the latter for rocking relative to the cover about an axisparallel to the hinge axis, first spring means urging the latch memberto rock to a latched position in which the latching noses are engageablewith the keepers for holding the cover in its closed position, a latchdeactivating member pivoted on the cover and being urged against thelatch member by means of second spring means which is of suffcientstrength to overcome the first spring means and which acts on thedeactivating member to pivot the latter in the direction for rocking thelatch member away from its latched position, thereby to preventengagement of the latching noses with the keepers, and a projecingportion on the deactivating member engageable by a dust bag when thelatter is disposed in the casing to pivot the deactivating member in thedirection opposed to the action of the second spring means in responseto movement of the cover to its closed position, thereby to permit thelatching noses to engage the keepers.

In acordance with a feature of this invention, the end cover of thecasing has an aperture located between the sockets provided for rockablemounting of the latch memher, and the connecting bar of the latch memberhas an intermediate portion oifset substantially from the rocking axisof the latch member and projecting into such aperture so as to bemanually depressible for releasing the Iatching noses from the keepers.

In an advantageous embodiment of this invention, the deactivating memberof the latching mechanism is constituted by a bent wi-re having asubstantially radial arm at one end and a bight intermediate the ends ofthe bent wire to constitute the projecting portion of the deactivatingmember, and the cover has spaced aligned holes in which aligned endportions of the bent wire are resiliently retained by its intermediatebight, with such holes being disposed so that the pivoting axis of thedeactivating member is arranged at right angles to the rocking axis ofthe latch member and the radial arm at one end of the bent wire isengagable with the latching member at the offset intermediate portion ofits connecting bar.

In accordance with a further feature of this invention, the socketsprovided in the cover open rearwardly to permit'the mounting lugs of thelatch member to pass into the sockets only when the latch member isrocked to an extreme position away from its latching position, androcking of the latch member to such extreme position is prevented, afterthe mounting lugs have been disposed in the sockets, by the installationof the spring means for urging the latch member to its latchingposition.

The spring means for urging the latch member to its latching positionare preferably constituted by helical compression springs each bearing,at its opposite ends, against a seat provided on each latching elementbetween its mounting lug and latching nose and against an abutmentsurface formed on the cover.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tank-type vacuum cleaner forwhich the latching mechanism embodying this invention is particularlyadapted;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 on FIG. 1to show the inside of the cover;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 on FIG. 2, to showthe relationship of the several elements of the cleaner when the coveris being moved toward its closed position with a dust bag disposedwithin the casing of the cleaner;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but showing the relationshipof the elements as the cover nears its closed position;

FIG. 5 is another view similar'to that of FIG. 3, but with the casingbeing sectioned at a location through one of the keepers thereof to showthe initiation of the engagement of a latch element with such keeper;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing the latchelement engaged with the respective keeper to hold the cover in itsclosed position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line7-7 on FIG. 2, and showing the latch member in its inoperative position,as when the cover is open or when the cover is moved to its closedposition in the absence of a dust bag within the casing;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but showing the condition ofthe latch member when the cover is moved to its closed position and adust bag is present within the casing;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views similar to FIGS. 3 and 6,respectively, but showing the condition of the latching mechanism when adust bag is absent from the casing;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1111 on FIG.6; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1212 onFIG. 2 to show the mounting of one of the latch elements in the coverand the engagement of its latching nose with the respective keeper.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention is there shownapplied to a tank-type vacuum cleaner 10 comprising a casing 11 having afront end cover 12 and a handle 13 by which the casing may betransported. The casing 11 further has skids 14 extending along thebottom thereof and wheels 15 projecting rotatably from the skids tofacilitate the movement of the cleaner along a floor or other supportingsurface.

The front end cover -12 may be removably secured on the front end ofcasing 11 in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, thefront end cover 12 is hinged to the casing 11 by means of hinge pins 16(FIG. 2) to adapt the end cover to swing forwardly from the front endofthe casing about a laterally extending axis at the bottom of the cover,thereby to open the front end of the casing. The end cover 12 is formedwith an air inlet opening 17 (FIGS. 3-6, 9 and 10) to which a suctionhose (not shown) is adapted to be removably connected, and whichcommunicates with a tubular projection 18 extending rearwardly from thecover 12. Suitable nozzles or other cleaning appliances may bedetachably mounted on a wand which, in turn, is connected to the outerfree end of the suction hose and through which air flows into the casingby way of the tubular projection 18 of the end an extensible cable 20under the control of a push-button switch 21 (FIG. 1). The motor-fanunit receives the air 4 which passes through dust bag 19 and exhauststhe cleansed air through a suitable discharge opening 22 at the top ofcasing 11.

As shown on FIG. 3, dust bag 19 is of a self-sealing, disposable typeand includes a bag portion 23 of air permeable paper having intersticesbetween the fibers of the paper that are of such small dimensions as toseparate all dust particles from the air. The paper bag portion 23 fitsin a slotted or perforated inner casing sleeve 24 having a mountingflange 25 at its forward end which engages a flange 26 at the front endof casing 11 so as to support sleeve 24 within casing 11. The edges 27of the open end of paper bag portion 23 are adhesively attached to amounting plate 28 of cardboard or the like which projects beyond bagportion 23 to provide a peripheral flange for engagement in a seat 29defined by flange 25 at the front end of the slotted or perforatedsleeve 24 (FIG. 9). The cardboard mounting plate 28 is provided with acentral, circular opening 30 (FIG. 3) which is substantially closed by athin resilient membrane 31 of rubber or the like having a relativelysmall central hole 32.

As the end cover 12 is swung toward its closed position (FIGS. 4 and 5)the tubular projection 18 of the end cover enters opening 30 of themounting plate 28 and presses rearwardly against membrane 31 so as todilate or stretch the hole 32 of the latter and finally to projectrearwardly through the stretched hole 32 into the interior of the bagportion 23. As is apparent on FIG. 6, when membrane 31 is thus stretchedor dilated to per mit the extension of tubular projection 18therethrough, the stretched membrane 31 closely engages the outerperiphery of tubular projection 13 for sealing the joint therebetween.The seal is further perfected by an annular sealing member 33 of foamedplastic or the like which seats between the base of tubular projection18 and a concentric rearwardly projecting flange 34 formed on. cover 12(FIGS. 2 and 3) so that, when cover 12 is in its closed position (FIG.6) annular seal 33 is compressed between the base of tubular projection18 and mounting plate 28 around opening 30 of the latter. Cover 12 isfurther formed with a rearwardly directed circular flange 35 (FIG. 3)spaced radially outward from the central, generally cylindrical hub 36from which tubular projection 18 extends, and the back edge of theflange 35 is engageable, in the closed position of the cover 12, with asealing gasket 37 which is mounted at the outer periphery of the flange25 of the slotted or perforated sleeve 24.

When the front end cover 12 is swung to open position, the dust bag 19may be stripped from tubular projection 18 of the end cover, at whichtime the membrane 31 returns to its original position for substantiallyclosing the opening 30 of mounting plate 28 and thereby preventing theinadvertent discharge of dirt or dust from bag 19 as the latter isremoved from within the casing of the cleaner. The dust bag 19 which isfilled with dust and dirt is then discarded and replaced by a new dustbag disposed within the open front end of casing 11. Thereafter, whenend cover 12 is returned to its closed position, tubular projection 18of the cover again automatically penetrates the membrane 31 of the newbag to open the latter, while the engagement of such membrane aroundtubular projection 18, and the engagement of annular seal 33 with thefront face of mounting plate 28 and a flange 35 with gasket 37 ensuresthat all of the dust laden air entering the cleaner at opening 17 willpass into dust bag 19.

In accordance with the present invention, a latching mechanism isprovided for releasably securing end cover 12 in its closed position(FIGS. 1 and 6) only when a dust bag 19 is properly positioned in casing11.

The latching mechanism in accordance with this invention comprises twokeepers 38a and 38b (FIG. 11) formed in the flange 26 at the front endof casing 11. The two keepers 38a and 3811 are laterally spaced apart soas to be symmetrically located at opposite sides of the medial plane ofcasing 11 which is perpendicular to the hinge axis of cover 12, and bothkeepers 38a and 38b are equally spaced from such hinge axis. Thus, wherethe hinge axis extends laterally at the bottom of the front end ofcasing 11, as in the illustrated vacuum cleaner, the two keepers 38a and38b are laterally spaced apart at the top of the opening of the frontend of casing 11 which receives the dust bag 19. As shown particularlyon FIGS. and 6, each of the keepers 38a and 38b is formed by a hollowboss 39 defining a cavity 40 which opens through the flange 26, as at41, and which has a ledge or shoulder 42 at the top edge of the opening41.

The latching mechanism in accordance with this invention furthercomprises a latch member generally identified by the reference numeral43 mounted on the cover 12, as hereinafter described in detail. Latchmember 43 generally includes a pair of substantially parallel latchelements 44a and 44b and an integral connecting bar 45 extending betweenlatch elements 44a and 44b and spacing apart the latter by a distanceequal to that between keepers 38a and 381) (FIG. 11).

As shown on FIGS. 2 and 12, end cover 12 has a rearwardly directedperipheral wall 46 spaced outwardly from the fiange 35, and the latchmember 43 is accommodated in the space defined between flange 35 andperipheral wall 46 at the top portion of cover 12, that is, at the sideof the cover remote from its hinge axis defined by hinge pins 16.Further, flange 35 has raised bosses 47a and 47b (FIG. 2) which aresymmetrically located at opposite sides of the medial plane of cover 12extending perpendicular to its hinge axis so as to be spaced apartlaterally by a distance equal to that between latch elements 44a and44!). Each of the bosses 47a and 4712 has an upwardly directedprojection 48 (FIG. 12) so that a socket 49 is defined above each boss47a and 47b in front of the respective projection 48 and is limited, atthe top, by a rearwardly directed shoulder 50. Each socket 49 opensrearwardly between the top of projection 48 and the back edge ofshoulder 50 and is intended to receive, through such gap, a mounting lug51 which depends from the front end of the respective latch element 44aor 4412.

Each mounting lug 51 is dimensioned to fit loosely in the respectivesocket 49 and thereby permit rocking of latch member 43 relative tocover 12 about a laterally extending axis passing generally through thesockets 49. So long as latch member 43 is either in its latchingposition, as shown on FIG. 12, or rocked downwardly from the latchedposition to a limited extent, as hereinafter described, for example, asshown on FIG. 10, the mounting lug 51, which is of generally rectangularcross-section, as shown on FIG. 12, has its relatively long dimensionextending parallel to the gap between projection 48 and shoulder 50 sothat engagement of the top of mounting lug 51 with shoulder 50 preventsraising of the mounting lug to the extent necessary to clear its bottomedge above projection 48. Thus, in the normal operating positions oflatch member 43, mounting lugs 51 are retained within the respectivesockets. However, during assembling of latch member 43 on cover 12,latch member 43 is rocked downwardly to an extreme position in which themounting lugs 51 can move into the respective sockets 49 through therearwardly directed openings or gaps of the latter.

The back end portion of each of latch elements 44a and 44b slopesdownwardly, as shown particularly on FIG. 12, and terminates in alatching nose 52 dimensioned to extend through opening 41 of cavity 40of the related keeper 38a or 3812 when cover 12 is in its closedposition (FIGS. 6, l0 and 12). Each latching nose 52 has an inclinedsurface 53 which cams under ledge 42 of the related keeper when cover 12is moved to its closed position with latch member 43 in its latchingposition, as shown on FIG. 5.

In order to urge latch member 43 to its latching position, a helicalcompression spring 54 is disposed between a seat 55 formed at theunderside of each of latch elements 44a and 441) at a locationintermediate mounting '6 lug 51 and latching nose 52 and an abutmentsurface 56 defined by the top surface of the boss 47a or 47b in back ofprojection 48. Thus, helical springs 54 urge latch member 43 to rockupwardly to the latching position (FIGS. 6 and 12) which is limited bythe engagement of mounting lugs 51 against the front wall surface of therespective cavities 49 and against the respective projections 48. Uponmovement of cover 12 to its fully closed position with latch member 43in its latching position (FIGS. 6 and 12), latching noses 52 of latchelements 44a and 44b engage in back of ledges 42 of the respectivekeepers 38a and 38b so as to releasably retain the cover in its closedposition. The springs 54, when installed between seats 55 and abutmentsurfaces 56, prevent downward rocking of latch member 43 to the extentnecessary to permit withdrawal of mounting lugs 51 from sockets 49 andthereby maintain the latch member 43 in its assembled position on thecover 12.

The connecting bar 45 of latch member 43 has an upwardly offset or bowedportion 57 intermediate its ends, and such offset portion 57 of theconnecting bar projects into an opening or aperture 58 formed in theperipheral wall 46 of cover 12 (FIGS. 3-6, 9 and 10) and can be manuallydepressed for rocking latch member 43 in the counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed on FIG. 6, for releasing the latching noses 52 fromthe ledegs 42 and thereby permitting opening of cover 12.

In accordance with the present invention, the latching mechanism forcover 12 is further provided with a device 59 which permits engagementof the latching noses 52 with the ledges 42 of the respective keepersonly when a dust bag 19 is properly positioned within casing 11 of thecleaner. Such device 59 is shown to include a bent wire deactivatingmember .60 having axially aligned end portions 61 and 62 (FIG. 2), aradially projecting portion 63 constituted by a bight of the bent wirebetween aligned end portions 61 and 62, and a substantially radiallydirected arm 64 which extends from end portion 62. Flange 35 of cover 12has a hole 65 extending therethrough at right angles to the hinge axisof the cover and spaced from the medial plane of the cover so as to bedisposed under one end of the intermediate portion 57 of connecting bar45. Cover 12 further has a lug 66 extending from its hub 36 and formedwith a hole 67 aligned with hole 65.

Tlhe end portions 61 land 62 of member 60 are turnably received in theholes 67 and 65, respectively, so that arm 64 of member 60 is angularlymovable under the raised or offset portion 57 of connecting bar 45 ofthe latch member. When member 60 is thus mounted on cover 12, the bightportion 63 of member 60 is stressed so as to urge its end portion 61axially into hole 67 against an end abutment 68 which is also formed onhub 36. Projecting downwardly from the underside of offset portion 57 isa pin 69 (FIGS. 2, 7 and 8) against which arm 64 is engageable. A coiledtorsion spring 70 is wound around portion 62 of member 60 and has itsopposite ends 71 and 72 engaged against the front wall surface of cover12 and the projecting portion 63 of member 60, respectively, so as toyieldably urge member 60 to turn in the direction for projecting portion63 rearwardly from cover 12, as shown on FIGS. 3, 4, 9 and 10. Whenportion 63 of member 60 projects rearwardly from cover 12 by the actionof spring 70, arm 64 of deactivating member 6!) acts against pin 69, aswill be explained presently, to rearwardly displace the upwardly offsetportion 57 of connecting bar 45 and thereby rock latch member 43 awayfrom its latching position, as particularly shown on FIG. 10. The spring70 is dimensioned so as to exert a force which is more than sufircientto overcome the force of springs 54 which urge latch member 43 to itslatching position.

The above described latching mechanism embodying this invention operatesas follows:

When cover 12 is in its open position, as shown on 7 FIGS. 3 and 4,spring 70 of device 59 is effective to turn deactivating member 60 tothe position where its portion 63 projects rearwardly from cover 12,thereby to dispose latch member 43 in its inoperative position.

It will be seen that the portion 63 of the member 60 is illustrated inthe same positions in FIGS. 3 and 10. in FIG. 10, when there is no dustbag within the casing 10, the latch member 43 also is in its inoperativeposition with the latching noses 52 free to move out of the cavities 40past the ledges or shoulders 42. Under this operating condition, whichapplies both to FIG. and the open position of cover 12 in FIG. 3, thelatch member 43 is in its inoperative position with the latching noses52 free to move out of the cavities 40 past the ledges or shoulders 42,as seen in FIG. 10. Under these conditions the coil spring 70 functionsto rotate the deactivating member 60 about its vertically aligned endportions 61 and 62 (FIG. 2) and move the radially directed arm 64beneath the raised offset portion 57 of the connecting bar 45 againstthe pin 69 fixed to and depending downward from the underside of theofiset portion 57 which serves as the manually operable latch member 43for the connecting bar 45.

Before the radially directed arm 64 moves beneath the offset portion 57of the latch member 43, the helical compression springs 54 act againstthe opposing ends of the latch member 43 and function to hold the latchmember, including the intermediate offset portion 57 thereof, in itsraised or latched position. In such latched position of the member 43,the latching elements 44a and 44b assume the positions illustrated bythe latch element 44a in FIG. 12.

When the coil spring 70, which is capable of exerting greater force thanthe latch springs 54, becomes operable responsive to movement of thedeactivating member 60 to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, theradial arm 64, which is nearer to the air inlet 17 in the end cover 12than the pin 69, as shown in FIG. 11, moves in a direction from the airinlet 17 toward the perforated sleeve 24 and imparts movement to the pin69, which is carried by the offset portion 57 of the latch member 43, ina direction from the air inlet 17 toward the perforated sleeve 24. InFIG. 2 it will be seen that the pin 69 is at a higher level than thebosses 47a and 47b in which the sockets 49 (FIG. 12) are formed. Due tothe fact that the pin 69 is at a higher level than the fulcrum points atthe sockets 49 for the rocking latch elements 441! and 44b, and thefurther fact that the sockets 49 and pin 69 are spaced from one anotherlengthwise of the cleaner 10 and axially of the cover 12, movement ofthe member 60 to the position shown in FIG. 10 will render the radialarm 64 thereof operable to move the pin 69 toward the apertured sleeve24 in FIG. 11 and this in turn will impart rocking movement of the latchelements 44a and 441) about the sockets 49 and cause the latching noses52 to move to their unlatched positions, as shown in FIG. 10.

With the radial arm 64 forced against the pin 69 by the action of thecoil spring 70 which exerts a greater force than the latch springs 54,as explained above, the latch springs 54 are rendered inoperable to movethe latch members 44a and 44b to their latched positions seen in FIG. 12and they will remain in their unlatched positions while the deactivatingmember 60 is in the position shown in the cover open positionillustrated in FIG. 3 and in the cover closed position illustrated inFIG. 10 when there is no dust bag 19 in the casing 11.

In view of the foregoing explanation, it will be understood that withthe cover 12 in its open position in FIG. 3 and the latch member 43 inits unlatched position due to the illustrated position of thedeactivating member 60, a dust bag which is full of dust and the likecan be removed from the casing 11 and replaced by a new or empty dustbag 19.

With a dust bag 19 properly positioned within casing 11, movement ofcover 12 toward its closed position will bring the projecting portion 63of deactivating member 60 into contact with mounting plate 28 of thedust bag, as shown on FIG. 4. During further movement of cover 12 towardits closed position, as indicated on FIG. 5, the engagement of mountingplate 28 with projecting portion 63 will cause turning of deactivatingmember 60 for angularly displacing arm 64 thereof in the forwarddirection, for example, from the position shown on FIG. 7 to theposition shown on FIG. 8, that is, away from pin 69 of latch member 43.

In FIG. 8 the radial arm 64 will have been moved forward within thecover 12, that is, in a rearward direction in FIG. 2 with respect to thepin 69 which is in front of it. When this occurs, the radial arm 64 nolonger will be in the path of movement of the rocking latch member 43and the latch member springs 54 again can function to move the noses 52of the latch members 44a and 44b to their latched positions in FIG. 12;and the offset portion 57 of the latch member 43 can be manuallydepressed to move the latch members 44a and 44b to their unlatchedpositions shown in FIG. 10 against the action of the latch membersprings 54.

During final movement of cover 12 to its closed position, for example,during movement of the cover from the position shown on FIG. 5 to thatshown on FIG. 6, the inclined surfaces 53 of noses 52 cam under ledges42, whereupon latching noses 52 engage in back of ledges 42, as shown onFIG. 6, to releasably lock cover 12 in its closed position.

If cover 12 is moved toward its closed position at a time when a dustbag 19 is not positioned within casing 11, for example, as shown onFIGS. 9 and 10, portion 63 of deactivating member 60 projects rearwardlyfrom cover 12 into the front end portion of casing 11 when the cover isin its closed position (FIG. 10) so that the deactivating member 60maintains latch member 43 in its inoperative position in the mannerexplained above. In such inoperative position of latch member 43,latching noses 52 of latch member 43 remain below ledges 42 of therespective keepers and thus cannot engage the ledges for holding cover12 in its closed position. Thus, the user of the vacuum cleaner isimmediately appraised of the absence of the dust bag and there is nodanger that the vacuum cleaner will be operated without a dust bag inthe casing.

When a dust bag is located within casing 11 of the vacuum cleaner andthe upwardly offset portion 57 of the connecting bar of latch member 43is manually depressed so as to release latching noses 52 from ledges 42,the force of spring urges member 60 to turn in the direction projectingits portion 63 rearwardly from cover 12 to react against mounting plate28 of the dust bag for initiating movement of cover 12 away from itsclosed position.

It will be apparent from the above description of the illustratedlatching mechanism embodying this invention that the same provides thesecurity arising from the engagement of two laterally spaced latchingnoses 52 with similarly laterally spaced keepers 38a and 38b whileensuring that such latching engagement can occur only when a dust bag isproperly positioned within the casing. The foregoing desirable functionsare further achieved with a structural arrangement that is relativelysimple and inexpensive to produce and assemble, and yet is reliable inoperation.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to that preciseembodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner of the type including a casing having an openingfor the insertion and removal of a dust bag and a cover for said openinghinged on said casing for pivotal movement to and from a closedposition, a latcln'ng mechanism operative when a dust bag is disposed inthe casing to releasably secure the cover in said closed position, saidmechanism comprising two spaced apart keepers on said casing which aresubstantially equally spaced from the hinged axis of said cover, a latchmember having a pair of generally parallel latch elements and anintegral connecting bar extending between said latch elements andspacing apart the latter by a distance equal to the distance betweensaid keepers, said latch elements each having a mounting lug at one endand a latching nose at the other end, means on said cover definingspaced sockets which loosely receive said mounting lugs and therebymount said latch member for rocking relative to said cover about an axisparallel to said hinge axis, first spring means urging said latch memher to rock to a latched position in which said latching noses areengageable with said keepers for holding said cover in its closedposition, a latch deactivating member pivoted on said cover and beingengageable against said latch member, and second spring means acting onsaid deactivating member to pivot the latter in a first direction forrocking said latch member away from said latched position so as toprevent engagement of said noses with said keepers, said second springmeans being of sufiicient strength to overcome said first spring means,said deactivating member including a projecting portion engageable by adust bag when the latter is disposed in the casing to pivot saiddeactivating member in a second direction against the action of saidsecond spring means in response to movement of said cover to its closedposi tion, thereby to permit the latching noses to engage the keepers.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1; wherein said cover has anaperture located between said sockets, and said connecting bar of thelatch member has an intermediate portion offset substantially from therocking axis of the latch member and projecting into said aperture so asto be manually depressible for releasing said latching noses from saidkeepers.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2; wherein said deactivatingmember has its pivoting axis arranged at right angles to said rockingaxis of the latch member and said deactivating member has a substantillyradial arm extending therefrom for engagement with said latch member atsaid offset intermediate portion of its connecting bar.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3; wherein said deactivatingmember is constituted by a bent wire having said substantially radialarm at one end and a bight intermediate the ends of the bent wire toconstitute said projecting portion; and wherein said cover has spacedaligned holes in which the end portions of said bent wire areresiliently retained by said intermediate bight.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1; wherein each of said latchelements has a spring seat located between its mounting lug and latchingnose and said cover has abutment surfaces confronting said spring seats;and wherein said first spring means consists of a helical compressionspring received, at one end, in said spring seat of each latch elementand bearing, at its other end, against the confronting abutment surface.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 5; wherein said means on thecover defining each of said sockets includes an upwardly directedprojection extending from said abutment surface and a rearwardlydirectly shoulder spaced upwardly from said projection to define arearwardly opening gap therebetween through which said mounting lug canpass only when said latch member is rocked to an extreme position awayfrom said latched position; and wherein said helical springs, whendisposed between the respective spring seats and abutment surfaces,prevent rocking of the latch member to said extreme position and therebymaintain said latch member in assembled relation to said cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,322,948 6/ 1943 Lofgren 2 143,016,982 1/1962 Descarries 55214 3,220,759 1/1965 Miller 292 FOREIGNPATENTS 3 87,482 5 1965 Switzerland.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner. J. R.MOSES, Assistant Examiner,

1. IN A VACUUM CLEANER OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A CASING HAVING AN OPENINGFOR THE INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF A DUST BAG AND A COVER FOR SAID OPENINGHINGED ON SAID CASING FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT TO AND FROM A CLOSEDPOSITION, A LATCHING MECHANISM OPERATIVE WHEN A DUST BAG IS DISPOSED INTHE CASING TO RELEASABLY SECURE THE COVER IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, SAIDMECHANISM COMPRISING TWO SPACED APART KEEPERS ON SAID CASING WHICH ARESUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY SPACED FROM THE HINGED AXIS OF SAID COVER, A LATCHMEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF GENERALLY PARALLEL LATCH ELEMENTS AND ANINTEGRAL CONNECTING BAR EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LATCH ELEMENTS ANDSPACING APART THE LATTER BY A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEENSAID KEEPERS, SAID LATCH ELEMENTS EACH HAVING A MOUNTING LUG AT ONE ENDAND A LATCHING NOSE AT THE OTHER END, MEANS ON SAID COVER DEFININGSPACED SOCKET WHICH LOOSELY RECEIVE SAID MOUNTING LUGS AND THEREBY MOUNTSAID LATCH MEMBER FOR ROCKING RELATIVE TO SAID COVER ABOUT AN AXISPARALLEL TO SAID HINGE AXIS, FIRST SPRING MEANS URGING SAID LATCH MEMBERTO ROCK TO A LATCHED POSITION IN WHICH SAID LATCHING NOSES AREENGAGEABLE WITH SAID KEEPERS FOR HOLDING AND COVER IN ITS CLOSEDPOSITION, A LATCH DEACTIVATING MEMBER PIVOTED ON SAID COVER AND BEINGENGAGEABLE AGAINST SAID LATCH MEMBER, AND SECOND SPRING MEANS ACTING ONSAID DEACTIVATING MEMBER TO PIVOT THE LATTER IN A FIRST DIRECTION FORROCKING AND LATCH MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID